Can crusher



Aug. 1@, 1948. Q ALVAREZ 2,446,898

CAN RUSHER' Filed May 5, 1947 Oscar E. Alvarez Ks By 2mm Patented Aug. 10, 1948 ETED STATES 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a can crusher and has for its primary object to flatten metal cans of the type used in the dispensing of fruits, vegetables, and the like.

Another object is to enable the housewife easily and quickly to flatten a can so that it will occupy a minimum amount of space in a trash receptacle or the like.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a base adapted to be fixed to a vertical support, such as a door-jamb or wall, a bottom crushing plate pivoted along one end edge to the lower end edge of the base, a crushing jaw pivoted at its lower end to the end edge of the bottom crushing plate opposite that which is pivoted to the base, a top crushing plate pivoted to the base at a point above the pivot of the bottom crushing plate and a hand lever on the top crushing plate to swing the plates about their pivots and to advance the jaw toward the base.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front View of a can crusher embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side View of the can crusher illustrated in Figure 1 showing it attached to a wall and with a can in place therein ready to be crushed;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the crusher illustrated in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a wall or doorjamb which extends vertically has attached thereto my improved can crusher II. This can crusher comprises a rectangular base l2 formed across its lower end edge with spaced hinge barrels I3 each of which is pierced as at M (Figure 3) to receive a hinge pin Hi. The openings M in the respective hinge barrels l3 align with one another along a horizontal axis as will be readily understood upon reference to the drawings. Formed in the base plate adjacent each corner is a countersunk opening It for the reception of an attaching screw I! by means of which the crusher I! may be attached to the vertical support ill. Formed on the exposed face of the base plate near the end opposite the hinge barrels l3 are spaced hinge barrels having aligning openings for the reception of a pivot pin 18, the axis of which lies parallel to the axis of the hinge pin previously referred to.

A rectangular top crushing plate I9 is provided along one end edge with spaced hinge barrels which are pierced with openings which align with the openings in the hinge barrels through which 2 the hinge pin i8 extends, in order pivotally to connect the crushing plate IS) with the base l2. A hand lever 2| is welded or otherwise fixed to the top crushing plate l9 and projects from the end thereof opposite that carrying the hinge barrels 20 along an axis which lies perpendicular to the axis of the hinge pin l8. Formed on the end edge of the plate l9 opposite that carrying the hinge barrels 28 are spaced hinge barrels '22 which are formed with aligning openings for the reception of a hinge pin 23, the axis of which lies parallel to the axis of the hinge pin [8.

Hingedly coupled as by spaced parallel hinge barrels 24 to the hinge barrels 22 receiving the hinge pin 23 is a crushing jaw 25 which in all of its positions lies parallel to the base l2. This jaw 25 comprises an elongated rectangular body of a width substantially equal to the width of the base l2, and formed at the lower end of the jaw i. e. the end opposite that carrying the hinge barrels 22 with a flange 26 which projects toward the base l2 and lies perpendicular to the general plane of the jaw 25. Formed along the edge of the flange 26 are spaced hinge barrels 21 which are pierced with aligning openings for the reception of a hinge pin 28 which lies along an axis parallel with the axes of the pins l5, l8 and 23. Coupled to the hinge pin 28 adjacent opposite ends of the hinge barrels 21 are hinge barrels 29 of a bottom crushing plate 30 which has formed along its end edge opposite that carrying the hinge barrels 29 spaced hinged barrels 3| which are provided with aligning openings for the reception of the hinge pin 15 previously referred to.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by moving the hand lever 2| in an are about the pivot pin it, the crushing jaw 25 will be moved toward or away from the base l2 in parallel relation therewith.

In use, a can C from which the top and bottom ends have been cut is placed in the crusher to stand on the bottom plate 38, and upon swinging the hand lever 2i downwardly about the axis of the pin I8 it will be obvious that the jaw 25 will be caused to approach the base l2 with the top and bottom crushing plates 19 and 30 swinging about their respective pins and crushing the can between the base l2 and the jaw 25. Obviously as the can is being crushed the crushing plate [9 will cooperate with the base l2 while the crushing plate 36 will cooperate with the crushing jaw 25 to flatten a can therebetween. The plates l9 and 30 are preferably of a width substantially equal to the width of the base l2 and of the jaw 25, and of a size completely to enclose a can resting on the plate 30 while the latter is in the position illustrated in Figure 2. By the simple manipulation of the lever 2| a can may easily and quickly be crushed and upon restoring the device to its initial position, the crushed can may be removed therefrom for deposit in any suitable receptacle.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A can crusher comprising a base adapted to be fixed to a vertical support, a bottom crushing plate pivoted along one end edge to the lower end edge of the base, a crushing jaw pivoted at its lower end to the end edge of the bottom crushing plate opposite that which is pivoted to the base, a top crushing plate pivoted to the .base at a point above the pivot of the bottom crushing plate and to the upper end edge of the jaw and a hand lever on the top crushing plate to swing the plates about their pivots and to advance the law toward the base.

2. A can crusher comprising an elongated 4 rectangular base adapted to be fixed to a vertical support to lie in a vertical position, a rectangular bottom crushing plate pivoted along one edge to the lower end edge of the base, a top rectangular crushing plate pivoted along one edge to the outer surface of the base at a point above the lower end of the base, an elongated rectangular crushing jaw pivoted along its upper end edge to the end edge of the top plate remote from that which is pivoted to the base, a perpendicular flange on the lower end of the jaw projecting toward the base and being pivoted along its edge remote from the jaw to the end edge of the bottom crushing plate remote from the base and a hand lever fixed to the top plate and projecting therefrom along an axis which lies perpendicular to the axes of the pivots for swinging the plates about their pivots and moving the jaw toward and away from the base.

OSCAR E. ALVAREZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Steele June 17, 1941 

